Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-18- 17, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A300 B4-603, A300 B4-620, A300 B4-622, A300 B4-605R, A300 B4-622R, A300 F4-605R, A300 F4-622R, and A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes. AD 2017-18-17 required modifying certain fuselage frames and a repair on certain modified airplanes. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2017-18-17, and also requires, for certain airplanes, an inspection to determine if rotating probe inspections were performed prior to oversizing of the open-holes, and repair if necessary; as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. This AD was prompted by a report indicating that the material used to manufacture the upper frame feet was changed and negatively affected the fatigue life of the frame feet, and a determination that more work is required for certain airplanes that were previously modified. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.